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CAS decision backs FIFA’s efforts in the protection of minors

FIFA has noted with satisfaction the decision issued recently by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) regarding an appeal lodged by the Danish club Midtjylland FC related to the registration of minors from Nigeria. This decision by CAS supports FIFA's aim of strengthening the protection of minors in relation to the international transfer of football players.

On 6 March 2009, CAS fully confirmed a previous decision by the FIFA Players' Status Committee and rejected the appeal of Midtjylland FC against the said decision.

In 2007, FIFA had received from FIFPro (the worldwide representative organisation for professional players) information indicating that the Danish club regularly registered minors from Nigeria, and decided to open an investigation into the matter, the results of which were presented to the FIFA Players' Status Committee.

The committee considered as established that the Danish Football Association had regularly registered minors from Nigeria at the request of the club Midtjylland FC, and decided to issue strong warnings against the Danish FA and Midtjylland FC for infringement of article 19 of the Regulations for the Status and Transfer of Players, related to the protection of minors.

The Danish club appealed this decision before CAS, basing their appeal mainly on arguments of EU law. However, CAS has decided to fully confirm the previous decision of the FIFA Players' Status Committee, something which further encourages FIFA to continue its battle against the illicit international transfer of minor players in football.